Speckle reduction in optical coherence tomography by path length encoded angular compounding
US7567349B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/105
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Speckle, a factor reducing image quality in optical coherence tomography (“OCT”), can limit the ability to identify cellular structures that are important for the diagnosis of a variety of diseases. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can facilitate an implementation of an angular compounding, angular compounding by path length encoding (“ACPE”) for reducing speckle in OCT images. By averaging images obtained at different incident angles, with each image encoded by path length, ACPE maintains high-speed image acquisition and implements minimal modifications to OCT probe optics. ACPE images obtained from tissue phantoms and human skin in vivo demonstrate a qualitative improvement over traditional OCT and an increased signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”). Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of an apparatus probe catheter and method can be provided for irradiating a sample. In particular, an interferometer may forward forwarding an electromagnetic radiation. In addition, a sample arm may receive the electromagnetic radiation, and can include an arrangement which facilitates a production of at least two radiations from the electromagnetic radiation so as to irradiate the sample. Suc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.